2021-Volvo-XC40-Recharge–09

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge Is An Exciting All-Electric SUV

Volvo continues innovating and stepping into the all-electric environment with the new addition of the 2021 XC40 Recharge, the all-electric, battery-powered version of the small, city-friendly SUV.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge provides that Volvo name with that smaller form factor, adapting to condo parking lots, city driving and going out of the city if it needs to with its 335 km range.

RELATED: Spending A Weekend Recharging With A Volvo XC40 Recharge

First Impressions of the XC40 Recharge

The Volvo XC40 Recharge is not only stylish but extremely functional.

The design is a very nice small form factor with design cues at the front to separate the petrol-powered version. The all-electric has a more solid front grill has a futuristic look to it and gives it quite the edge. That edginess continues through the car from the profile to the standard rims on the XC40 Recharge. From the outside, I like how the door shaping cuts the window towards the second door, adding a nice sharp look that doesn’t necessarily cut the blindspot while driving.

It nicely rounds out at the back, with the classic vertical Volvo lights that add borders and tighten up the look to the back. 

It’s not an all-electric car that has weird colours, leaf symbols or looks like a corporate fleet vehicle. It’s a nicely refined and modern approach to design.

The Interior of the XC40 Recharge

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge’s interior is overall very good. The materials used on the dash feel like they would take on wear and tear well. The design from the door to the dash follows a nice line. The centre console is at a nice height and is comfortable for taller drivers like me. 

One of my absolute favourite things about the car itself and the driving experience is the ride height. In my opinion from a compact SUV side of things, it’s got the perfect ride height to have a sporty feel, but be high enough out of the windows to be really in control.

The overall size of the car really makes it easy to rip around the city and know where the car’s dimensions are really quickly. It only took me a few minutes to really get a sense of the car, which is excellent. Not too long after I started driving it for the first time, I was very confident and comfortable in it.

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge, Toronto, Ontario, EV, Electric Vehicle, Electric SUV

The only aspect that I would like to see improve is the material used on the centre console. The knobs and plastics that are used are to be desired. Also, I wish they took the touch screen from the Polestar II and hid the vents from each side that pinch the touch screen to a smaller size in the centre of the car. 

With those aspects in mind, there is a lot of technology in the car to make the driving experience very seamless. If you enjoy the functionality of Google apps on your smartphone, the experience continues and is very familiar on the car.

The Google Assistant is great for quick lookups, the Google Maps app is excellent for travel, knowing how much time to your destination and really well at communicating how much electric charge you have left in the battery.

The car even has a Google App Store and all the different music services you use at home, like Spotify.

The Driving Experience

When it comes to the XC40 Recharge, I instantly felt and enjoyed the acceleration off the line. It’s a nice pulling feeling that makes the car feel fun from a stopped position and really makes it easy to change lanes, get up to speed and make overtakes as needed. 

Quick Notes: The XC40 Recharge has a total range of 335 km for the range, 402 hp of power and only 40 minutes to power the XC40 Recharge from 0% to 80%. 

The cameras around the car make it easy to park, check for pedestrians and know where your car is relative to the low-speed risks around you in public places.

Pricing for the Volvo XC40 Recharge starts at $64,950 MSRP.

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for a small and compact all-electric SUV, The Volvo XC40 Recharge packs quite the punch. The form factor of the car makes it easy for a young family or professional to enjoy city driving and the range to get out of the city. This is a great running errands car, city SUV, or car for a more environmentally-friendly conscious-minded small family. That being said the power and torque from the electric motors bring a lot of fun when you are accelerating off the line just about anywhere you are. 

For more information about the 2021 XC40 Recharge, be sure to visit their website.

Read More Canadian Luxury News And Stories